Bet — the 2nd Hebrew letter
ב
Symbolism
House, household, within-ness; duality (2) — the first letter that can contain something
What the letter is built from
Traditionally a dalet with a yod as its floor — a doorway given a foundation to dwell on
Its first root in Scripture
The first bet-rooted word is 'created' — inside the Torah's first word, whose oversized bet opens Scripture
Messianic thread
The Torah opens with the letter of house: creation is God building a dwelling. 'In My Father's house are many rooms' — the Son builds what bet pictures. Ben (son) begins with bet: the house continued.
In the mystical tradition
The sages ask why creation begins with bet: closed above, below, and behind, open only forward — inquire not what is above or before, but walk forward. Bet also begins berachah, blessing.
Wisdom of the letter
Bereshit's large bet is the doorway of the whole Bible; every reader enters Scripture through a house-letter.